Cairo: SiltaNews – News Desk
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, chaired a high-level meeting of the Coordinating Committee for Receiving Patients and Wounded Arriving from the Gaza Strip.
The meeting, held at the Ministry of Health and Population headquarters in the New Capital, was attended by Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Maya Morsi, Minister of Social Solidarity, and representatives from relevant ministries, state agencies, and the Egyptian Red Crescent.
Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, official spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, stated that the meeting served to activate the National Emergency Health Services Plan. This move raises the preparedness level of healthcare facilities nationwide to coincide with the reopening of the Rafah Crossing for the movement of patients, the wounded, and those who have completed their recovery. The spokesperson confirmed that the plan is built on comprehensive operational readiness.
Approximately 150 hospitals are participating nationwide, with the capacity to expand if necessary, supported by a fleet of 250 to 300 fully equipped ambulances. To ensure high-quality care, a specialized workforce of 12,000 doctors and over 18,000 nurses is on standby. Furthermore, 30 rapid response teams from the Central Administration for Emergency and Critical Care are ready for deployment within hours to handle urgent interventions.
A central control room at the Ministry’s headquarters operates 24/7, linked to 27 regional emergency rooms and over 90 medical points to ensure precise coordination and timely decision-making. The spokesperson emphasized that the plan aligns with World Health Organization (WHO) and international humanitarian (Sphere) standards. This includes critical care bed ratios and the availability of medical supplies. The meeting also established field coordination mechanisms between the Egyptian Ambulance Authority and the Egyptian Red Crescent.
Working together as national humanitarian partners, these entities will manage the reception of patients and their companions at the crossing, provide necessary humanitarian and relief support, and oversee safe accommodation and transportation logistics. Regarding medical supplies, the Ministry has secured a strategic reserve of medicines and equipment. In coordination with the National Blood Bank, the system is prepared to facilitate up to 1,000 blood transfusions daily during emergencies.
Minister Abdel Ghaffar has directed that hospitals in the immediate vicinity of the Rafah Crossing maintain the highest level of alert. He stressed the importance of all parties working as a unified system to provide seamless medical and humanitarian care. The Ministry of Health and Population reaffirmed that human health is a top priority for the Egyptian state, noting that these measures reflect Egypt’s humanitarian and responsible role on both a regional and international scale.